Fish filleting machine



Feb. 11, 1958 A. GRADOFF ETAL 2,

FISH FILLETING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1954 INVENTORSALEX GRADOFF KENNETH WHOM/ELL BY /v4/v Vl/VOFF ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1958 A.GRADOFF ETAL L 2,822,569

' FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSALEX GRADOFF KENNETH W HOWELL BY IVA/V l/l/VOFF ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1958A. GRADOFF ET AL 2,822,569

FISH FILLETING MACHINE ALEX GRADOFF KENNETH WHOWELL BY IVA/V V/NOFF A 7'TOI'PNE Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. GRADOFF ETAL FISH FILLETING MACHINE Feb.11, 1958 Filed Nov. 8, 1954 HHHHH Feb. 11, 1958 A. GRADbFF ETAL2,822,569

FISH FILLETING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1954 s Sheet -Sh e et 6 if F 53 /z1 U l :1 9 4a 47 n D 4 4a 49 :7 26

' IN V EN TORS 4L EX GRA 00F F KEN/V5 TH M- HOWE L L Y IVAN VINOFF MATTORNEY United States Patent FISH FILLETING MACHINE Alex Gradolf,Kenneth W. Howell, and Ivan Vinolf, San Francisco, Calif., assignors ofthree percent to Clarence Terry, two percent to Fred A. Mead, Jr., onepercent to Harry King, one percent to Curtis Penrod, one percent toClarence Brown, one percent to James R. Townsend, one-half percent toLeslie Musante, and one-half percent to Marjorie West ApplicationNovember 8, 1954, Serial No. 467,327

14 Claims. (Cl. 17-4) This invention relates to a fish filletingmachine.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a fish filletingmachine and particularly to provide a highly efficient and smoothoperating machine wherein the fish are positively guided and carriedlongitudinally along a pair of blades in such a manner that the filletsor meat portions are peeled 01f the skeleton of a fish efiiciently.

Among the novel features of the herein fish filleting machine are theparallel filleting blades, each being generally V-shaped with anelongated apex point hollow in the center and with edges so slanted asto easily separate the meat from the bones of a fish; the supporting ofthe V-shaped blades at their wider ends so that the same can be pushedapart resiliently and spacing the elongated points apart to facilitatethe entry of the bone of'the fish therebetween; the arrangement of aplurality of comparatively narrow parallel conveyors in a seriestransverse to the blades for mutual driving interconnection between therollers of such conveyors, and the supporting of the same on individualresiliently adjustable supports so as to permit self-adjustmentaccording to the size of the fish, providing barbs or prongs on therespective conveyors for engaging the skin of the fish without tearingthe the same so as to pull the fish longitudinally past the respectiveblades, the said conveyors being parallel with and outside of therespective separable blades; the provision for the cleaning of the endrollers of the conveyors, and easy adjustment for opening the entranceend of the conveyor for the insertion of the fish.

We are aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangementsand combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in thedetails of the construction thereof without departing from the scope ofthe present invention as set forth in the following specification, andas defined in the following claims; hence we do not limit our inventionto the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and partsas described in the said specification, nor do we confine ourselves tothe exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifestin the following detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the entire assembly of the fish filletingmachine.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the mounting of theconveyor rollers and their general arrangement in the respective casing.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view of the lower half of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan view of the blade.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental side view of the lower blade and one roller.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental plan view of a belt orprong thereon. L

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of a barbed belt.

with the barb Fig. 8 is a fragmental sectional view of a barbed belt.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan view of the lower half of the machine on alarger scale. i

Fig. 10 is a fragmental plan view of the entrance end on the lower halfof the machine.

Fig. ll is a cross-sectional view at about the entrance rollers of themachine.

Fig. 12 is a fragmental sectional view showing the centering device andthe adjustable support for the entrance rollers.

Fig. 13 is a fragmental front elevation of the entrance end of themachine showing the resilient centering device.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the relation of thefish to the conveyor belts at about the piercing points of the blade.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the relation of thefish at about the slots of the blade points.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the fish and the belts atabout the last roller of the series.

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating the relativeresiliency of the branches of the blades to conform to non-symmetricalbone structure of fish.

In carrying out our invention we make use of a lower housing or shell 1and an upper housing or shell 2 connected at their outlet ends hingedlyso that the upper shell can be separated from the lower shell and swunginto an open position. For this purpose on each side of the outlet endof the lower shell 1 is provided a bracket 3 with a fork bearing 4 atits top in which is nested a pivot 6 extended from the side of the uppershell 2. From the outlet end of each shell 1 and 2 extend a pair ofprojections 7 and the projections of each pair are connected by a coilspring 8 for the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of the uppershell 2 about the pivot bearings 4 and thereby to facilitate theswinging of the upper shell 2 about its pivot.

The lower shell 1 is supported on any suitable understructure such asthe supporting frame or legs generally designated by the referencenumeral 9.

Each housing or shell 1 and 2 has a pair of spaced longitudinal sides10. The construction of each side 10 in the present illustration, asshown in Fig. 11, includes an angle iron forming the outer strip 11 ofeach side 10 and a middle strip or channel 12 fixed to the horizontalflange 13 of the angle strips 11. The horizontal flanges 13 of the anglestrip 11 project outwardly and the inner channel 12 is secured bywelding along the .outer edge portion of the horizontal flange 13 so asto face outwardly of the shell and to define a pocket or recess alongthe middle of the device. The free edge or flange 14 of each channel 12forms the longitudinal edge of the respective shells 1 or 2.

On the longitudinal edges or flanges 14 of each shell is mounted a knifeor blade 16. Each blade 16 is generally V-shaped suitably anchored atits wider end on a plate 17 on the respective flange 14. The respectivelegs or, branches of the V-shaped blade 16 converge from said.

anchored ends toward an apex 18 which latter is elongated to formgenerally parallel spaced edges 19 terminating in a tapered point 21.Thus a generally hollow blade is formed in which there is a solid point,21 behind which is a longitudinal slot 22 between the parallel bladeedges 19, then a widening diverging space between the diverging rearportions or legs of each V-shaped blade 16. As particularly shown inFig. 2, the elongated apices of the opposite blades 16 are bentoutwardly from one another in such a way as to diverge from one anotherof the bone structure of a fish between the blades. The

b la'des"ld are resilient scfithatthey may yield in accordance -with thesize of the bone --str-ucture of a fish, yet firmly hold against theport-ions of the fish for guiding and holding the same. v I 1 In theoutlet end "on each casing' is journ'alledf a pulley 22 by meansofshafts 23 extend'edfromthe o'pposite ends thereof. Each shaft 23atone-end"of'the-pulley- 22 extends through" the respective uppen-afidlo'we'r shells 1 and 2 and have thereontransmis'sion gears24 whichtransmissioni gears transmit rotation from one shaft 23f to the other.The transmission gears 24=rotate in opposite direction Lto one another-which-causes 'the adjacent or middle. branches of suitable Al -belts,-tobe hereinafter described, to move parallel in the same direction,namely one-halfiof'its diameterlin advance of the blade point.21..

The-se ie of 11ers 27..;z8. 29,-.-30,;:31, 32 d 31m arranged vin seriesfollowing ithe; entrance. ,1'01181. .26 Iowardthegoutlet endand.;arefbeing;so..spaced and oftsuch' dimensions that the.lastroller233...oftherseriesis-generally intermediate betweenUthe anchored:ends and the.

point oftheblade 16. 'Each of thevrollersis substantially equal inlength to t the effective distance between .the widest cutting ed ges.of the ranches of the.blades16. The rollers- 26- to 33 are supporte.on' suitable .yieldable bearingsto .behereinaf ter described. The:jdriving. of. the rollers is accomplished bya series of V-beltswhereby'the driving pulley 22 is connected to certain ofgthe.

rollers as well as the respective rollers ,of the seriesyare connectedto one another for-balanceddriving andgenerally balanced pulling of thefish along -and against the cutting edges of therespective blades116.

For-the purpose of engagingthe ,fishandi pulling it on a path parallel.with theblades-ld certain of theV-belts are provided with barbs orprongs 35 in ;such; a way that th same engag e the skin ofthefishwithoutrdeeply. penetrating or tearing the same. This structure-as shownin Figs. 7 and 8, is formed inthis case by a;U.-.shaped wire 34penetrating from the inside ,0f'1he, V:belt.-out

wardly to the top of the V-belt; an d then. horizontally along the uppersurface of the;\(-belt .and;then bent upwardly and curved in thedirection. of ,move ment. of

the V-belt so astograbdhe skin of the fish and pull the fishl Certain ofthe V-belts are :smooth and havent) such prongs formed thereon.

.For the purpose of balanced-driving drive rollers 22-as well as theother rollers 264033 areprovidedeach witha plurality of circular grooves-36..ifor;the;respective V-belts and either driving; therethroughorbedriven thereby as hereinafter described. 7

Thegrooves 36 on the rollers and thepdriyepulley are in'registry withone another so that the respective V-belts extending in the registeringgrooves are parallel. The,

dis uting piongsand extend from the driving pulley to the roller30-which is fifth in-series fromthe entrance roller 26.

The next pair of belts 41 are belts with prongs 35 to pull the fish andextend from the drive pulley 22 to the roller 33 which is the iastcofthe series of rollers and so that these-rfish pnlling .beltsr are in;the space between the brafi'cheso'f the V-shaped blade 16. The nextpair; of-belts E42: aresrnoothbelts which extend 'fromathe drive rpulley 22 to. theroller :32 -;which is next to .the last'ct-th'e'seriesof rollers. "lfhe next pairof belts are beltswith prongsiiisiandextendfromthedrive pulley 22 ,ito and. mundane .mner 31.. .which is thesixth inthe series fr'om the entrance roller.. -26. .Thenext pair-zofbelts 44 are pronged and extend fromthe drive pulley 22 tothenoller 28,-"the-"third of the series. The central belt 46 is alsoprongedtandsexterrds from the drive roller 22 to the roller "27 which isthe next to the entrance roller.26. 3 I d Thereis alsoa systemcfbalanced belts interconnecting theisenie's ;of.rollers 26..to. 33 withone another. .Atpair' oflba'rbedgor.prongedbelts.47 extend oneachside ofv the centrahbelt ..46Lfrom.:the second'roller 2710 :and

@ around. theientranceroller 26 in order toepull' the; fishup outermostdrive belts 37 'Q1'lgth pulley :22yextenditovthe roller 29 which,the;fourth;inseries;from ltheeentrance roller ;26. These :first. driving:belts -37. :rhavefjher'eon drivingrbe'lts '38 rate; smooth liblfSawithout- :prongs and extend .from :.=the 'idriving pulley $221k) thesecond roller 27 .5;next' m: theientrance roller :26" in*"the -'se'ries.next pair of driving be1ts"39-ar"e' alsc smooth: belts with:

to and, against thepoints o fgthe blades :16. Immediately adjacent andoutsideof this .pair-. f be1ts 47-are-a-pair of srnodthbelts. 48. which.extend betweenrthe entrance roller, .126 and "the roller 301whichListhelfifth roller from theentrance rqllerl26. .Thetnextoutside pair ofsmooth belts 49; extend lbetween-lth e entrance roller 26 and .the' nextrolleri31, namely. the. roller in the seriesfrom the. entrance roller26, .fIhe,.p.air:of. smooth belts 51 immediately outsideofthe belts.49-extend between the -entrance rbller 'l26 and.the..seventh roller 32.The;;next

outside pairjof smoothbelts.52 extendnbetween the en-.

trance roller 26 and the .fourth roller-.29.; Onthe out-v side on each.side of the. driveibelts as. heretofore idescribed {are smooth belts53which;.extend between rthe entrance "roller *2'6.and [the third. rcller.28. Finally the outside smooth -beltsf54 which iextend .between..the;;en

trance roller" 26 .and .the, last irro ller 33 of the :.series. Thussm'ooth driving an'd t ransmission along the .width. of the respectiverollers'jisaccomplished for evendriving. and pull and the arrangementsof theprongedbeltsis such that even pull is .exerted onvarious portionsof the. fish'as'they reach'the'respectiye lbelts. 1 Exceptfor the.

central entrance belts 47.; the other. interconnecting belts between theseries 0t rollcr$ fil Smooth.

The -monnti g of "the entranceroller rollers of "the "seriesfareaccomplished in, such a t manner asto-allow the rollersto yieldreadilyin accordance with the thickness; of the fishfbetween them, andthereby exert eonstant"but"'yieldingfpressure upon .the fish andfacilitate'its unifoim advance along the respective blades -ln the -hrei'n "illustration and particularly fas' shown each end a stub shaft '56;which stub shaft. is journalled as shown in Fig. llfin ajournal block'57. This journal block' '57 has a red-58 "radially extended therefrom.On

eachrod 58 is 'a plnngerwasher--59 located ina pivoted cylinder 61'." A''coil spring 62 insideof each cylinder 61 bearsagain'st the plungerwasher 59 so as to normally -urge' the washer-'59 inwardly of themachinethereby I to urge the journal blocks 57 and the respectiveoppositerollers. toward one another. Thus the respective opposite rollers-=can-be pushed apart against the actions of the coil V springs 62 andyield toaccommodatethe' bulge or size 0f the fi'sh. 'Each cylinder61is:suitably m'ounted 'on'the adjacent outer, or top or bottom strips11 or theirespective shlls l andfl on ajpivot Thus-the; rollers are"yieldably "connected to their -respective' shellsior casings.

' At"the" entrance end ot the dvicethe entrance rollers 26 are pivotallyconnected to the stub shafts 56 6f the 26 and the; other ads of therespective rollers. The fish usually is thicker-j,

1 the middle and tapers toward the sidefinsandthe eneral shapedetermines more or less the shape and I Ieight of the fish. Accordinglyan arrangement is proided whereby the engagement and gripping or-pullingf the fish is generally proportioned to the size of the sh allowinggreat flexibility of operation and more entle action on the fillets ofthe fish without tearing 1e same. As illustrated in Fig., 17, if thestructure of 1c fish is bulky, as shown in cross-section, the resiliencyf the blades 16 permits them to be pushed apart by ac bone structure soas to peel along the bones and llet all the meat.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 14 the point 21 of each blade 6 is undercut onthe face facing the other point 21 so s to form a recess 106 generallyin continuation of the lot 22 of the elongated point. The upright edgesof iis recess are slanted and sharp to prevent the backbone slidelaterally between the blade points. A projecon or bead 107 at the tip ofeach blade point 21 facing )Ward the opposite point serves to abutagainst the one structure of the fish so as to raise the points slight-I away from the contacted bone thereby to prevent the oints to penetrateinto the contacted bone yet peel very losely to it. The divergingcutting edges 16' of each lade 16 begin at the edge of the slot 22 abovethe longated point 18, as shown in Fig. 4, and then diverge utwardly asshown. Thus the peeling action begins imiediately next to the backboneof the fish and then connues out toward the dorsal fins, as shown inFigs. 14 16 inclusive.

We claim:

1. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of complemental ollow casings, afilleting blade on each casing extend- 1g longitudinally of the casingsgenerally along the lane where the casings meet, said casings forming anllet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof, lleting edges oneach blade converging toward said ilet, a piercing point at theconvergence of said filleting dges pointing toward said inlet, andconveyor means 1 said casing parallel with and adjacent to the respecveblades being adapted to move said fish against said iercing points andthen along said blades, each blade inluding a pair of resilient legsdiverging from said point )ward said outlet, said filleting edges beingformed on 1e outer edgesof said legs, means to anchor the ends f saidlegson the adjacent casing so that said blades ieldably conform to thebone structure of the fish pulled long the blades, each piercing pointbeing elongated nd having a longitudinal slot therethrough open to thepace between said'legs.

2. In a 'fish'filleting machine, a pair of complemental ollow casings, afilleting blade on each casing extending )ngitudinally of the casingsgenerally along the plane 'here the casings meet, said casings formingan inlet t one end and an outlet at the other end thereof, fillet- 1gedges on each blade converging toward said inlet, a iercing point at theconvergence of said filleting edges ointing toward said inlet, andconveyor means in said asing parallel with and adjacent to therespective blades eing adapted to move said fish against said piercingoints and-then along said blades, each blade including pair of resilientlegs diverging from said point toward aid outlet, said filleting edgesbeing formed on the outer :lges of said legs, means to anchor the endsof said legs n the adjacent casing so that said blades yieldably con-)rm to the bone structure of the fish pulled along the lades, eachpiercing point being elongated and having a )ngitudinallslot,therethrough open to the space he veen said legs, side peeling edges .onopposite edges t each elongated point, the portions of said blades ad-166m. saidlpiercing Points bein'gjcurved and flared. from,

one another so as-to form a flaring wider space :between .5

ppposite piercing points of said blades.v

I -3. In a fish-filleting machine, a, pair ofcomplemental: hollowcasings, a filleting blade on each casing extending longitudinally ofthe casings generally along the plane Where the casings meet, saidcasingsforming an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other endthereof, filleting edges on each; blade converging toward said inlet, a

piercing point at the convergence of said filleting edges pointingtoward said inlet, and conveyor means in said casing parallel with andadjacent to the respective blades being adapted to move said fishagainst said piercing points and then along said blades, each bladeincluding. a pair of resilient legs diverging fromsaid point toward saidoutlet, saidrfilleting edges being formed on the outer edges of saidlegs, means to anchor the ends of said legs on the-adjacent casing sothat said bladesyieldably conform to'the bone structure of the fishpulled along the blades, each piercing point being elongated and havinga longitudinal slot therethrough open to the space between said legs,side peeling edges on opposite edges of each elongated point, theportions of said blades'adjacent said piercing points being curved andflared from one another so as to form a flaring wider space betweenopposite piercing points of said blades, each filleting edge beingbeveled for peeling the meat off the bones.

' 4. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of complemental hollow casings,a filleting blade on each casing extending longitudinally of the casingsgenerally along the plane where the casings meet, said casings formingan inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof,

'parallel with and adjacent to the nearest blade, a drive pulley nearthe outlet of each casing, a pluralityof belts drivingly connecting saiddrive pulley to said series of rollers, and a plurality of beltsinterconnecting the rollers in each series, barbs on certain of saidbelts adapted to engage the skin of the fish for pulling the fish pastsaid blades.

5. In a fish filleting machine,- a pair of complemental hollow casings,a filleting blade on each casing extending longitudinally of the casingsgenerally along the plane where the casings meet, said casings formingan inlet at one end and'an outlet at the other end thereof, filletingedges on each blade converging toward said inlet, a piercing point atthe convergence of said filleting edges pointing toward said inlethaving a longitudinal-slot therethrough, and conveyor means'insaid'casing parallel with and adjacenrto the 'respectiveblades beingadapted to said blades, saidconveyor means including a' series ofrollers transversely journalled in each casing near the inglongitudinally of the casings generally along the planewher he casingsmeet, said casings" forming 'aninlet at one end andian. outlet atiheother end thereofifilletin'g .1 edges on each b ade cnvergingtowardsaid;inlet,-'apierc =move said fish against said piercingpoints and then along adjacent second "roller 2715f the series, by yokelinks 63. Each yoke link 63 is journalled at the end of the stub shaft56 of the second roller 27 and has its other'end bifurcated so as toform a yoke around a bearing shaft 7 normally holding the entrancerollers apart and allowing 7 them to press together each time a fish isintroduced between them. This control mechanism is denoted in itsentirety by the numeral'68'in Fig. 1. V

The control or manipulating mechanism 68 maybe electronic, pneumaticor'footpedal control as particularly shown in Fig. L'where it includes afoot pedal 69 pivoted at its inner end on a fixed bracket 71 andconnected by a link 72, g'enerallyintermediate its ends, to an actuatinglever 73. A coilspring 74 connected between the link 72 and thefixed'frame member 76-normally pulls the link 72 and pedal 69 upwardly;The lever 73 is journalled in a bearing 77 on the frame member 76intermediate its ends, and its free end is connected to suitablepneumatic actuator generally designated by numeral 78, This actuator 78is adapted to move a'rod 79 along the frame member 76. The top of therod 79 is connected to an arm 81*of an eccentric cam 82. The eccentriccam 82 is located between a pair of bearing guards 83 mounted on theends of resiliently telescoping tensionrods 84. Each of the tension rods84 is journalled on the outside of the respective casing 1 or 2 and isconnected to the outer end of the adjacent bearing shaft 56 to supportthe same swingably and push it toward the front of the case soas tokeepthe belts undert'ension. The

eccentric can r.8 23is between bearing guards 83 so that when thefootpedal 69 is pushed down, it pushes the actuator 7;up;which"i n turn willpush the rod 79 up so that the eccentric eain '82 on each' side willpermit the pressing together ofthe entrance rollers 26 to firmly graspand engage the tail-of the fish. Then the pedal is released and theeccentric cam 82 is returned to its initial position to hold theentrance rollers 26apart ready for w the next fish: i W 7 A g Y Thepoint of each blade is bent or curved outwardly with respect to theopposite blade so that the points diverge from one another, toaccommodate the tail por- 6 curved away from the plate 87 to facilitatethe insertion of the fish preferably tail'fii'st. 'Then the hollow partof the hood converges downwardly and inwardly of the machine above theplate 87 so as to more definitely guide the fish in its advancetoward'the blade points. On the top of the hood is a bow spring 93 forresiliently pressing the hood 91 downwardly. The/bow spring 93 issupported on a horizontal bar which forms part of a generallyrectangularyoke 94 the'vertical sides of which yoke are slidable inguide sleeves"97.- The guide sleeves 97 are suitably mounted on thefront wall of the top casing 1, for instance by flanges 98 's'crewed onsaid front wall. A coil spring 991a anchored at its lower end at theflange 98 and has its other end connected to the top horizontal memberoftlie yoke 94 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 so as to normally urgejtheyoke and the bow spring 93 thereon against the 'top'of the hood 91. Asthe fish is' inserted, it pushes the hood 91 upwardly according toits'size and after'theinitial resiliency of the bow spring 93 isutilized the; assembly can be pushed further up against jthej'action ofthe coil spring 99 thus accommodating andcentering fish of varioussizes.

At the outletend'of the machine particularly as shown in Fig. 3, abovethe respective drive pulleys 22 are a pair of fixed scrapercombsltll.The drive pulleys 22 are spaced apart further than the other rollers sothat the conveyor belts diverge fromone another toward the outlet endsof the casings. The space between the drive pulleys is open for theejection of the fillets of the fish as well as the bone. 1

Each scraper comb 101;as particularly shown in Fig. 3, has a pluralityof teeth pointing toward the direction from which the fish approaches onthe belts. The teeth 102 are generallyjabove the respective conveyorbelts so that the fillet or any part thereof is prevented from goingaround with the belts but it is stripped ofi the belts and drops outalongside 'the' curved body of' the guide comb 101;

7 Above the return side of each entrance roller 26 and also aboveeach'drive pulley 22 is provided, on a cross shaft 103 journalled intherespective shell or casing, a circular brush 104 which is-driven bysuitable transmissions not shown in the same direction as the adjacentroller or pulley. The brushes rotate oppositely to the direction ofmovement of the conveyor beltsjadjacentf to them so as .to clean andbrush the respective conveyor guide the tail of the fish: suitably anddirectly :between the points of thefblades 16, a pair of light springguides 86 are provided one ineach casing to wprk from' the outer end ofthe casing inwardly to the'points of the respective blades 16. The guides 86 substantially taper toward the riespectiveblade points as shownin Fig. 3

and are spreadapartby the body of the fish. 7

At the entrance end of; the machine there is provided manually, althoughsuitable devicesmay be provided for I a receiving platei87 madepreferably of suitable rubber or plastic composition so'molded thatit'has corrugations 88 thereon. The corrugations are arranged so as toslant in opposite direction on opposite halves of the plate 87' andconverge-andrneet-at the longitudinal center line of the plate-87. -The.fish placed upon and advanced toward the entrance conveyors26 are placedupon this' plate 87 which jisinclined downwardly as shown in Fig.

the machine thereby-to allow flow of fluids toward the outlet end andalso take advantage, to a certain extent,

of gravity. 1 r

For more accurately centering the fish there is problades 16.

belts beforethey turn around the entrance rollers 26 and after they:Ifift the drive pulley 22, therebyto assure clean unobstructedoperation of the belts both for driving and also for conveying the fishalong the respective In operation the fish is inserted in the presentmachine placing the fish and feeding 'byi mechanical means. The fish ispushed under the hood 91 until it is grabbed and engaged by the firstbarbed 'frontconveyor' belts 47, as the entrancerollers are released andmove together. The

fish is thus pulled tail -first'against the piercing points of theblades 16a'n'd alonglthe same as shown in Fig. 14. As the fish ispassed' along the elongated blade points Thereafter the other barbedconveyors impress their prongs into thefish'without tearingthe'same butwith firmness and by the curved prongs or barbs advance the fishforcefullyagainst the edges of the blades 16. The

i pressures on the sides of the fish are so balanced as to videdhollow-hood 91 above the entrance or receiving plate 87. The :hood,assparticularly shown in Figs. 12

and 13, has'an'entrance end 92"whieh is inclined'and keep thecentralbonestructure of the fish between the blades 16. As the-fish isfully advanced over and parallel with the blades 16, other barbed beltsengage the fish as shown in Fig. 16 according to the thickness and thesize of the fish. In this manner the 'gripping'of the fish on conveyorbelts nearer-theiniddIe aiid' larger fish will" asaasee ing toward saidinlet, and conveyor means in said casing parallel with and adjacent tothe respective blades being then along said blades, said conveyor meansincluding a series of rollers transversely journalled in each casing'near the inlet of the casing and being parallel with and adjacent to thenearest blade, a drive pulley near the outlet of each casing, aplurality of belts drivingly connecting said drive pulley to said seriesof rollers, and-a plurality of belts interconnecting the rollers in eachseries, barbs on certain of said belts adapted to engage the skin of thefish for pulling the fish past said blades, a central barbed belt ofeach conveyor means extending from about the adjacent piercing pointalong said blade to the drive pulley, a barbed belt in each conveyormeans spaced next to each side of said center barbed belt and extendingover the rollers from said intake to about said point of convergence ofthe blade bars.

7. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of complemental hollow casings, afilleting blade on each casing extending longitudinally of the casingsgenerally along the plane where the casings meet, said casings formingan inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof, filletingedges on each blade converging toward said inlet, a piercing point atthe convergence of said filleting edges pointing toward said inlet, andconveyor means in said casing parallel with and adjacent to therespective blades being adapted to move said fish against said piercingpoints and then along said blades, said conveyor means including aseries of rollers transversely journalled in each casing near the inletof the casing and being parallel with and adjacent to the nearest blade,a drive pulley near the outlet of each casing, a plurality of beltsdrivingly connecting said drive pulley to said series of rollers, and aplurality of belts interconnecting the rollers in each series, barbs oncertain of said belts adapted to engage the skin of the fish for pullingthe fish past said blades, a central barbed belt of each conveyor meansextending from about the adjacent piercing point along said blade to thedrive pulley, a barbed belt in each conveyor means spaced next to eachside of said center barbed belt and extending over the rollers from saidintake to about said point of convergence of the blade bars, and otherspaced belts having barbs at dilferent spaced distances from the centerbelt to engage the fish symmetrically according to its size.

8. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of complemental hollow casings, afilleting blade on each casing extending longitudinally of the casingsgenerally along the plane where the casings meet, said casings formingan inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof, filletingedges on each blade converging toward said inlet, a piercing point atthe convergence of said filleting edges pointing toward said inlet, andconveyor means in said casing parallel with and adjacent to therespective blades being adapted to move said fish against said piercingpoints and then along said blades, said conveyor means including aseries of rollers transversely journalled in each casing near the inletof the casing and being parallel with and adjacent to the nearest blade,a drive pulley near the outlet of each casing, a plurality of beltsdrivingly connecting said drive pulley to said series of rollers, and aplurality of belts interconnecting the rollers in each series, barbs oncertain of said belts adapted to engage the skin of the fish for pullingthe fish past said blades, 2. central barbed belt of each conveyor meansextending from about the adjacent piercing point along said blade to thedrive pulley, a barbed belt in each conveyor means spaced next to eachside of said center barbed belt and extending over the rollers from saidintake to about said point of convergence of the blade bars, and otherspaced belts having barbs at different spaced distances from the centerbelt to engage the fish symmetrically according to its size, and meansto support each of said rollers individually resiliently yieldably inits casing so as to normally urge said belts toward said blades and thefishT-betweensaid belts.

9. In a fish filleting machine, a pair of complemental hollow casings, afilleting blade on each casing extending longitudinally ofthe casingsgenerally along the plane where the casings meet, said casings formingan inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end thereof, filletingedges on each blade converging toward said inlet, apiercing point at theconvergence-of said filleting edges pointing toward said inlet, andconveyor means'in 'saidcasing parallel with and adjacent to therespective blades being adapted to move said fish against said piercingpoints and then along said blades, said conveyor means including aseries of rollers transversely journalled in each casing near the inletof the casing and being parallel with and adjacent to the nearest blade,a drive pulley near the outlet of each casing, a plurality of beltsdrivingly connecting said drive pulley to said series of rollers, and aplurality of belts interconnecting the rollers in each series, barbs oncertain of said belts adapted to engage the skin of the fish for pullingthe fish past said blades, a central barbed belt of each conveyor meansextending from about the adjacent piercing point along said blade to thedrive pulley, a barbed belt in each conveyor means spaced next to eachside of said center barbed belt and extending over the rollers from saidintake to about said point of convergence of the blade bars, and otherspaced belts having barbs at different spaced distances from the centerbelt to engage the fish symmetrically accordingto its size, and means tosupport each of said rollers individually resiliently yieldably in itscasing so as to normally urge said belts toward said blades and the fishbetween said belts, said drive pulleys near the outlet being spacedapart wider than said rollers so as to leave space for ejecting the fishfrom between said belts. v

10. In a fish filleting machine, apair of superimposed blades arrangedin generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each bladeconverging to an apex generally in said respective planes, a piercingpoint formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a pathgenerally with and along the planes of the respective blades andoppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish against andunto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cutting edgeson each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from saidrespective points at least to the width of said conveyor means so as topeel the lillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of saidfish, said conveyor means including V belts, spaced claw elements formedon certain of said belts, each claw element including a pair of fingersextended outwardly from the belt being curved to point in the directionof travel of the respective belt.

11. in a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arrangedin generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each bladeconverging to an apex generally in said respective plane, a piercingpoint formed at each apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a pathgenerally parallel with and along the planes of the respective bladesand oppositely to the direction of said points to convey fish againstand unto said piercing points and then along said blades, said cuttingedges on each of said blades diverging generally in said plane from saidrespective points at least to the width of said conveyor means so as topeel the fillets from the opposite sides of the bone structure of saidfish, said conveyor means including a plurality of parallel V belts,means to drive said belts, barbs on certain of said belts, each barbbeing formed of a U shaped wire extended through the belt transverselyof the belt, the legs of said wire being curved to extend along the topof the belt and then to project generally perpendicularly of said belt,each point thereof being curved toward the direction of the belt travel.

12. [n a fish filleting machine, a pair of superimposed blades arrangedin generally parallel planes, outer cutting edges of each bladeconverging to an apex generalin said respective planes, a piercing pointformed at" :h apex, and fish conveyor means moving on a path ierallyparallel with and along the planes of the respec- 2 blades andoppositely to the direction of said points convey fish against and untosaid piercing points and n along said blades, said cutting edges on eachof d blades diverging generally in said plane from said pective pointsat least to the width of said conveyor ans so as to peel the filletsfrom the opposite sides of bone structure of said fish, each of saidblades includa pair of elements arranged generally in V-shape in laneparallel with the path of the fish on said conveyor ans, the apex ofsaid V-shape forming said piercing nt and facing in the direction fromwhich the fish aroaches said blades, a projection on the tip of each 12point for containing the bone of the fish against lateral movementbetween the points.

14. In a fish filleting machine, a pair ofcomplemental hollow casings, afilleting blade on each casing extending ,nt extended toward theopposite point for preventing points from penetrating into the bone ofthe fishp [3. In a fish'filleting machine, a pair of complementallongitudinally of the casings generally along the plane where thecasings meet, said casings forming an inlet at one end and an outlet atthe other' end thereof, filleting edges on each blade converging towardsaid inlet, a piercing point at the convergence-of said filleting edgespointing toward said inlet, and conveyor means in said casing parallelwith an adjacent to'the respective blades being adapted to move saidfish against said piercing points and then along said blades, and meansto guide and align the fish with said piercing points, said lastmeansincluding an inlet surface ahead of thepiercing point forsupporting the fish fed toward said piercing points, a hollow hood abovesaid surface, converging sides of said hood facing toward said surfaceto engage and guide the fish toward low casing, a'filleting blade oneach casing extending gitudinally of the casings generally along theplane ere the casings meet, said casings forming an inlet at end and anoutlet at the other end thereof, filleting ges on each blade convergingtoward said inlet, a'piercpoint at the convergence of said filletingedges pointtoward said inlet, and conveyor means in said casing "allelwith an adjacent to the respective blades being tpted to move said fishagainst said piercing points and n along said blades, each bladeincluding a pair of lverging resilient legs, said filleting edges beingformed the outer edges of said legs, means to anchor the free is of saidlegs on the adjacent casing so that said blades ldably conform to thebone structure of the fish pulled ng the blades, each piercing pointbeing elongated'and ess in continuation of said slot toward the tip ofthe said piercing points, and yieldable support device for "said hood-topermit said hood to conform to the size and shape of the fish'fed towardsaid piercing points.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,031,856 Rowton et al. Feb. 25,' 1936 2,292,696 Jensen Aug. 11,. 19422,466,614 Rivers 2 Apr. 5, 1949' 2,612,652 Berglund Oct. 7, 19522,659,930 1 Jagger -iNoV. 24, 1953 2,669,269 Schmidt Feb. 16, 19542,714,221 Gradoif et al.; Aug. 2, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS i Italy Nov.11,1926

